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Melku is bringing a little 'zest' to Guelph's food scene

Laza Food & Beverage offers Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine in a variety of ways

The ability to overcome obstacles, recognize opportunity and maintain a zest for life have been trademark characteristics of Guelph entrepreneur Melku Gebrekristos and she is just getting started. 

“This is a very supportive community but people are not always eager to try new things,” she said.  “We just have to be consistent – be out there everywhere.  The more they see you. One day they will try.”

Gebrekristos launched her trademark brand Laza Catering in 2009 selling authentic Ethiopian-Eritrean food at the Guelph Farmers’ Market, local festivals and other special events.

“In the beginning I was selling prepared food and injera, which is a different kind of bread,” she said.  “Then I started doing my own hand-blended spices, selling hibiscus tea and baking with teff which is one of the super grains. It is gluten free and very nutritious.”

In 2014 she opened her own shop on Ontario Street.

“I started takeout and a buffet,” said Gebrekritos.  “It was more convenient for me to grow and expand the business and that is why I ended up having my own bottled drink.  It is one of my best selling items.”

To market the drinks and her growing product line she incorporated the business under a revised name Laza Food & Beverage.

“In the beginning I had only one flavour but now I have six flavours of drinks,” she said. “So far, it is available in 15 locations in Guelph, Waterloo, Kitchener, Harriston, Mount Forrest, country markets and we sell it online as well.”

One of the drinks is made with moringa.

“It is a plant with many vitamins and minerals,” she said. “As far as we know it is the first moringa drink in Canada. I have it as a powder and as a leaf.”

Gebrekristos focuses on marketing food and products that promote health. She is a mother of three. Her husband is a surgeon in Ethiopia and she was a senior medical lab technician before she immigrated to Canada in 2002.

“I see my strength more in business now,” she said.  “It is important to me to show immigrants have opportunity here.”

She is a growing presence in the local economy and was recently awarded the Guelph-Wellington Business Enterprise Centre’s People’s Choice Award for Small Business.

She has also expanded her services at the Farmers’ Market to include the breakfast area.

“I sell breakfast and all my products there,” she said.

She has gotten used to everyone calling her Laza but in fact the name is an Eritrean word for zest.

“I don’t mind that people call me Laza,” she said. “It is good because the business name gets more attention.”

Laza Food & Beverage Inc.

Owner: Melku Gebrekristos

Established: 2009 –

74 Ontario Street

Guelph, Ontario

519 823-8274 or 519 731-2204

www.lazafandb.com

[email protected]


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Troy Bridgeman

About the Author: Troy Bridgeman

Troy Bridgeman is a multi-media journalist that has lived and worked in the Guelph community his whole life. He has covered news and events in the city for more than two decades.
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